Bowling fitting ball



Dec. 29, 1964 F. P. AYRE, JR 3,162,956

BOWLING FITTING BALL Filed March 29, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Fred I? Ayre Jr.

Dec. 29, 1964 F. P. AYRE, JR 3,162,956 BOWLING FITTING BALL Filed March29, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Fred P. Ayre Jr.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,162,955 Patented Dec. 29, 1964 3,162,956BQWLING FITTING BALL Fred P. Ayre, Jr., 321 E. Fairview Sh, Bethlehem,Pa. Filed Mar. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 183,435 3 Claims. (61. 33174) Thisinvention relates to the sport of bowling, and in particular to what maybe called a fitting ball, with which to measure a bowling ball for agiven bowler.

A bowling ball is normally provided with three holes for accommodatingthe thumb and two fingers of the bowler. For a given bowler, the propersize, span and pitch for these holes, will depend, among other things,on the thumb and finger sizes, and the hand span, of the bowler.

In order to determine the proper size, span and pitch of these holes fora given bowler, fitting balls have been used in the past, provided withholes of various sizes and pitches therein and with means for varyingthe span between the holes. After a bowler has found a combination ofsizes, span and pitch which fit his hand, these are measured and themeasurements used to drill an actual bowling ball. Prior fitting balls,however, have had certain drawbacks, which are overcome by the fittingball of this invention.

It is an object of this invention to provide a fitting bowling ball inwhich the sizes of the finger and thumb holes can be varied over a widerange.

Another object is to provide a fitting bowling ball in which the spancan be varied over a wide range.

Another object is to provide a fitting bowling ball in which the pitchof the thumb hole will vary automatically with changes in the span.

Another object is to provide a fitting bowling ball having calibrationmarks for measuring the span.

Another object is to provide a fitting bowling ball having calibrationmarks for adjusting the orientation of the finger holes in accordancewith changes in span.

Another object is to provide a fitting bowling ball in which the pitchof the finger and thumb hole can be varied by the user over a widerange.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description and claimsand from the drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of afitting ball embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the ball on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the ball on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the ball on th line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view of a portion of the ball as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view of the same portion of the ball, after adjustment toincrease the span.

FIG. 7 is a view in elevation of a modified form of the ball of thisinvention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ball 1 is a sphere of standard bowling balldiameter (8.600), comprising two segments, 2 and 3, releasably securedtogether by the bolt 4 and nut 5, which extends through the center ofthe ball in a direction normal to the plane of the abutting edge 7 ofthe segments. As shown, the segments are hemispherical withsubstantially fiat abutting faces, but segments of other shapes may beused.

Located in segment 3, is a radially directed hole 8 of circularcross-section, having a diameter of 2 /2" and hav ing its lower edgeapproximately above edge 7. Within said hole 8 is a matching plug 9having an outer surface 10 of the same radius of curvature as thesegment 3 and flush with the outer surface thereof. Plug 9 is removablysecured in hole 8 by setscrew 6. Plug 9 is provided with a pair offinger holes 11 and 12, the lower edges of which are approximately /2"above the lower edge 8' of plug 9. Hole 8 and plug 9 are shown ascylindrical, but may be tapered instead.

Located in the segment 2 is a thumb hole 13, and a plurality of similarthumb holes 13 of different diameters, with their upper edgesapproximately below edge 7.

As used herein, the term span denotes the distance between the edge ofthe thumb hole and the edges of the finger holes, as indicated at 21 inFIG. 1.

The team pitch as used herein denotes the direction of the finger andthumb holes with respect to the plane bisecting the opening of the thumbhole and the space between the finger holes, and extending through thecenter of the ball. FIG. 3 is a view on this plane, which is at a rightangle to the plane of FIG. 2.

Reference to FIG. 3 shows that the axis of the finger holes 11 and 12,when extended past the center of the ball, pass /3" below the center asindicated at 15; that is the finger holes have /8" forward pitch. (Ifthe extended axes passed above the center of the ball the holes would besaid to have reverse pitch.) For the purposes hereof forward pitch andreverse pitch are hereinafter called collectively vertical pitch.Reference to FIG. 4 shows that the axes of the finger holes 11 and 12are parallel to the plane of FIG. 3; that is they have no right or leftpitch. For the purposes hereof, right pitch and left pitch arehereinafter called collectively lateral pitch.

Reference to FIG. 3 shows that the axis of the thumb hole 13 extendsthrough the center of the ball; that is the thumb hole 13 has neitherforward nor reverse pitch. (If the extended axis of the thumb hole 13passed above the center of the ball the hole would be said to haveforward pitch; if below, reverse pitch.) Reference to FIG. 2 shows thathe axis of the thumb hole 13 is not parallel to the plane of FIG. 3but, if extended past the center of the ball, passes to the rightthereof as indicated at 22 that is; the thumb hole has /8" right pitch.Thumb holes 13 are positioned similarly to thumb hole 13.

It has been determined empirically that for the great majority ofbowlers the foregoing represents correct pitches for the thumb andfinger holes when the span is 3". It has also been determined that asthe span is increased, the pitch of the thumb hole should be changed tocompensate for such increase.

The ball of this invention permits such change in the pitch of the thumbhole to be accomplished automatically, as will now be described.

The ball 1 is provided with a number of plugs 9 having finger holes ofvarious sizes.

After the bowler has selected a thumb hole of proper size, as well as aplug 9 having finger holes of proper sizes, the selected plug will besecured in hole 8, the nut 5 loosened, and the halves of the ballrotated until plug 9 is substantially opposite the selected thumb hole,which will be assumed to be thumb hole 13, as shown in FIG. 5, in whichposition the span will be 3". If the span is too small, the halves ofthe ball will be further rotated, for example, to the position shown inFIG. 6, thus increasing the span; to compensate for the change inorientation of the holes, the plug 9 will be rotated counter-clockwiseto the position shown in FIG. 6. In the position shown, the span will be4".

The rotation of segments 2 and 3, and of plug 9, from the positionsshown in FIG. 5 to those shown in FIG. 6 does not change the pitch ofthe finger holes. However, the eifect of such rotation is to change thepitch of the thumb hole from zero forward or reverse pitch, right pitch,as in FIG. 5, to zero right or left pitch, reverse pitch, as in FIG. 6.

snsaeee the segments of the ball, and by further rotation of the plug 9counterclockwise to correspond with the change in span, the effect willbe given the thumb hole A" reverse pitch and A; left pitch.

A ball designed in accordance with the foregoing concepts can be usedfor fitting approximately 90% of all bowlers.

The ball as described above is for a right handed bowler, For a lefthanded bowler the pitch of the thumb holes is reversed.

It will be obvious that plug 9 can be provided with finger holes ofdifferent pitch from that described; that thumb holes 13 and 13 may alsobe of different pitch from that described; that plug 9 maybe adjusted sothat finger holes and thumb hole form other than an isoceles triangle;and that plug 9 may be provided with a single finger hole if desired.

A variation of the ball as described above is shown in FIG. 7. This ballis in all respects similar to the ball shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, anddescribed above, except'that in lieu of having a plurality of thumbholes 13, the segment 2 is provided with a radially directed hole 14, ofcircular cross section, a matching plug 14' and a setscrew 16 or othermeans to hold it remo-vably in place. The plug 14' is provided with athumb hole 17 having the pitch described hereina-bove or any otherselected pitch. A plurality of plugs having thumb holes of various sizesmay be provided. t

This ball is adjusted to the user in the same manner as the ball ofFIGS. 5 and 6. However, it has the added feature that the pitch of thethumb hole may be adjusted independently, instead of being dependent onthe span. In addition, this ball can be rolled like a regular bowlingball, thus enabling the bowler to test the feel or grip of 1 the fittingball as it leaves his hand. This is an important advantage. ture, theball may be provided with insertable Weights. This latter feature,however, is not a part of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the ball is provided with a calibration mark18 on segment 2 opposite each thumb hole 13 and a plurality ofcalibration marks 19 on seg-' ment 3. Likewise, plug 9 is provided witha calibration mark 20 and the perimeter of hole 8 is provided with aplurality of calibration marks 23. The calibration marks 19 areconveniently calibrated in inches and designate the span when the plug 9is adjusted so that its calibration mark is opposite the samedesignation on the perimeter of hole 8. This automatically measures thespan and assures that'the finger holes will be properly oriented withrespect to the thumb hole.

, Iclaim:

'' 1. A bowling fitting ball comprising In order to take full advantageof this fea- (a) a pair of hemispherical segments removably sccured toform a ball,

(b) said segments being rotatable with respect to each other about anaxis extending through the center of, and perpendicular to, theinterface,

(6) a thumb hole in one of said segments,

(d) said thumb hole, as measured in a plane at right angles to theinterface and bisecting the thumb hole at the surface of the ball,having a small amount of lateral pitch and having no vertical pitch,

(e) a radially directed opening of circular cross-section (g) at leastone finger hole in said plug. 2. A bowling fitting ball comprising (a) apair of berm-spherical segments removably secured together to form aball, (b) said segments being rotatable with respect to each other aboutan axis extending through the center of,

and perpendicular to, the interface,

(0) a thumb hole in one of said segments,

(a!) said thumb hole as measured in a plane at right angles to theinterface and bisecting the thumb hole 3 at the surface of the ballhaving approximately 3 8" lateral pitch and having no vertical pitch,

(e) a radially directed opening of circular cross-section in the otherof said segments, V V

(f) a matching plug rotatably mounted in said opening, and 1 (g) atleast one finger hole in said plug.

. 3. A bowling fitting ball comprising i V (a) a pair of hemisphericalsegments removably secured together to form a ball,

(1)) said segments being rotatable with respect to each other about anaxis extending' -through the center of, and perpendicular to, theinterface,

(c) a thumb hole in one of said segments,

(d) said thumb hole as measured in a plane at right angles to theinterface and bisecting the thumb hole at the surface of the ball havingapproximately ,45"

lateral pitch and having no vertical pitch,

(e) a radially directed opening of circular. cross-section in the otherof said segments,

(f) a matching plug rotatably mounted in said open ing, and V (g) a pairof finger holes in said plug.

1/51 McLaIen 273-63 X

1. A BOWLING FITTING BALL COMPRISING (A) A PAIR OF HEMI-SPHERICALSEGMENTS REMOVABLY SECURED TO FORM A BALL, (B) SAID SEGMENTS BEINGROTATABLE WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING THROUGH THECENTER OF, AND PERPENDICULAR TO, THE INTERFACE, (C) A THUMB HOLE IN ONEOF SAID SEGMENTS, (D) SAID THUMB HOLE, AS MEASURED IN A PLANE AT RIGHTANGLES TO THE INTERFACE AND BISECTING THE THUMB HOLE AT THE SURFACE OFTHE BALL, HAVING A SMALL AMOUNT OF LATERAL PITCH AND HAVING NO VERTICALPITCH, (E) A RADIALLY DIRECTED OPENING OF CIRCULAR CROSS-SECTION IN THEOTHER OF SAID SEGMENTS, (F) A MATCHING PLUG ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAIDOPENING, AND (G) AT LEAST ONE FINGER HOLE IN SAID PLUG.